As a Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) middle school student, I wake up at 6AM to make it to school on time. Almost always, I oversleep my alarm and arrive late because it's too early in the morning - fun fact, THE STREET LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. I know I'm not alone in this problem. Waking up this early leaves me feeling tired, impacting my performances and overall well-being.

My school starts at 7:30, and I start walking at about 7:10. I can't keep doing this, being this tired makes focusing and retaining information WAY harder for me.

Studies also show that a later school start time can have numerous benefits for middle school students. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that middle schools should start no earlier than 8:30am; they’ve found that later start times meet adolescents' physiological sleep rhythms and can improve students' mental health, car crash rates, and attendance (American Academy of Pediatrics).

Shifting FCPS's middle school start times by just an hour later aligns with these findings, and can create a healthier, safer learning environment for us students. We should not be forced to start our days while (again) THE STREET LIGHTS RECOGNIZE IT IS NIGHT TIME.

This small change in our routine can have a significant positive impact on all aspects of student lives, not just in FCPS, but potentially setting a standard for other school districts as well.

As a bonus, Ill even throw in a quote!

"Countless studies have shown that early school start times are associated with students getting less sleep, which negatively affects student academic performance. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades."

• Sleep Foundation, May 23 2023.

So many people and organizations want and recommend later start times!

So please add your signature! We- No. I need more sleep!